Political Quotes

“H.R. 974, the D.C. College Access Act, facing its final House consideration today, is a splendid and near typical example of the bipartisan way in which the gentleman from Virginia and I have worked together since he became chair of the Subcommittee on the District of Columbia 4 years ago. I want to thank the gentleman from Virginia for his unflagging and indispensable leadership and for the energetic work of his staff, especially Peter Sirh and Howie Denis, who worked hand in hand with my own able legislative director, Jon Bouker, every step of the way until we have gotten to final passage today. H.R. 974 marks a turning point in our approach to lifting the Nation's capital from fiscal crisis and in affording its citizens a way to overcome the handicap of being without a State to assist it in offering higher education. Because of the importance of higher education today and its links to full and equal citizenship, the D.C. College Access Act is a bill of historic proportions and ranks as one of the most important pieces of legislation for District of Columbia residents in our history. I am especially pleased that final passage of H.R. 974 today will allow Mayor Tony Williams and the city, working together with the Department of Education, to have the program up and running next fall.”